CLA meets with National Grid

CLA East Regional Surveyors Alison Provis and Tim Woodward together with CLA Chief Surveyor Andrew Shirley met with representatives from National Grid recently, to discuss two major pylon projects affecting CLA members across the East region.

National Grid says East Anglia GREEN and the Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement scheme are required to support the numerous offshore wind farms being constructed off the east coast, prompted by the government’s ambition to connect 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.

Current proposals by National Grid mean that 180km of power lines and pylons will stretch through Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, from just south of Norwich to the Thames Estuary, under their East Anglia GREEN scheme, whilst the Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement project involves the construction of 18km of overhead lines through Suffolk and Essex, with an additional 11km of underground cable going through the Dedham Vale AONB and the Stour Valley.

Due to their scale, these schemes will be considered ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects’ (NSIP) meaning National Grid will ultimately apply to the Planning Inspectorate for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to deliver them.

The meeting with National Grid provided an opportunity for the CLA to meet key personnel leading on both projects and establish ongoing working relationships to ensure the CLA are able to engage with them on behalf of members. Alison, Tim and Andrew spoke with the National Grid team at length about the impact the proposals will have on those landowners and farmers affected and the concerns members are raising, particularly around the decision to not connect an off-shore ring main.

From the CLA’s discussions with National Grid, it is clear that national policy and regulation have led to the proposals National Grid has put forward and the CLA are therefore now working to lobby the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and OFGEM to make clear our serious concerns with these new proposals and ensure the voice of CLA members is heard.

The meeting follows consultation responses the CLA has made in relation to the proposals and discussions with groups that are opposing the plans.

A CLA working group made up of members who are likely to be significantly affected by the proposals is being formed. This is to ensure our membership is fully involved in our work on this issue and to ensure we are hearing from affected members about current approaches they are receiving from National Grid. To be involved in this working group and feedback your experiences, please contact east@cla.org.uk